The AAMFT Blog

AAMFT and Other Mental Health Associations Address Concerns to HHS Regarding the No Surprises Act

Many MFTs are experiencing problems in attempting to comply with a new federal law, the No Surprises Act. Among other things, this law requires MFTs and other healthcare providers to provide a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) to clients who are uninsured, self-paying, or who have insurance but do not plan to submit a claim for services.

AAMFT is partnering with other organizations to address problems with this law. This week, AAMFT and ten other organizations representing mental health providers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra outlining problems with the No Surprises Act as applied to behavioral health providers. HHS has primary oversight of the provisions of this law pertaining to behavioral health providers. Our joint correspondence also requests that the government either cease enforcement of the No Surprises Act pertaining to behavioral health services, or exempt behavioral health providers from these requirements.

To assist members in complying with the No Surprises Act, AAMFT has recently updated its information regarding the requirements of the GFE provision of the No Surprises Act.

AAMFT Information on No Surprises Act GFE

AAMFT will provide updates on status of our organizations’ request for changes in enforcement of the No Surprises Act pertaining to MFTs and other behavioral health providers.

AAMFT Member Melissa Tran Wins Dr. Robert L. Jesse Award

Melissa Tran, MA, LMFT, an AAMFT Professional Member holding the Clinical Fellow designation, at the Orlando VA Healthcare System, won the Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert L. Jesse Award for Excellence in InnoVAtion for her Perinatal Reproductive Education and Planning Resources (PREPARe). PREPARe provides a holistic prenatal and postnatal support program involving nutrition, mental health and women’s health.

Support groups and classes are available for those who are expecting or recently postpartum. Offerings range from yoga, hypnosis and childbirth, lactation counseling, parenting styles, infant loss, infertility, post-partum depression, effective communication and how your health affects your child including nutrition and food safety.

This award recognizes and honors VA employees who have demonstrated excellence and enabled the discovery and spread of healthcare innovation that exceeds expectations, restores hope, and builds trust. Inspired by her own experience with motherhood, Tran developed the program to help other new parents navigate pregnancy and its related conditions. Tran often felt lost during her pregnancy and postpartum period, so she made it her mission to make sure that perinatal services, education and support are readily available across VHA.

Congratulations, Melissa, on this outstanding achievement!